Antonio Conte told to beg Inter Milan chiefs to buy Man Utd striker Romelu Lukaku
ANTONIO CONTE will have to convince Inter Milan’s owners to pay more than they want to for Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku, because at the moment his starting 11 is incomplete.
Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte is keen to sign Romelu Lukaku (Image: GETTY)
That’s the opinion of Italian football expert Matteo Bonetti, who believes that Conte will not be happy with the state of his current team due to Mauro Icardi.
Antonio Conte is desperate to sign Lukaku this summer, as Inter Milan look to offload Icardi to make way for the big target man.
Manchester United are believed to be open to selling Lukaku, who had a disappointing campaign last season.
However, they are determined to not allow him to leave on the cheap, having shelled out £75million for him two years ago.
United are apparently demanding £80m from Inter, who have so far not come close to that fee.
But Bonetti believes that Conte will be pushing the hard at the San Siro to find the money to sanction the deal, because he cannot rely on Icardi.
The Argentine’s agent/wife Wanda Nara has been actively trying to find the striker a new club this summer, as it appears his time at Inter is limited.
And speaking on ESPN FC, Bonetti explained that Conte will be happy to sell Icardi if it means he can buy Lukaku.
Mauro Icardi has been backed to leave Inter Milan (Image: GETTY)
“Conte always had two strikers at Juve, one bigger one and one smaller and quicker one,” the pundit explained.
“I think he’s trying to divise in his perfect 11 Lautaro [Martinez] the Argentine with Lukaku. Those two have very different characteristics, but I think they fit in very well together.
“He’s made no shame of it, Conte, that he wanted Lukaku when he was Chelsea manager, but United offered more money.
“This is a player who he’s long admired, and a player that Inter are going to have to laugh up a lot of money for. Inter don’t believe he’s worth the money United want for him, according to their valuation.
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Romelu Lukaku has been the subject of three bids from Inter Milan (Image: GETTY)
“This is going to be one [situation] where Conte has to try and sway the owners into paying more than they feel comfortable with. Right now, that starting 11 is incomplete, they’re missing the old Icardi.”
Bonetti went on to explain that Lukaku will fit Conte’s style of play much more than Icardi would.
“He’s a better goalscorer [than Lukaku] but the problem with Icardi is that when he’s not scoring, he’s a ghost,” he continued.
“You don’t see him, he’s not someone who invites the rest of the squad in, and he’s not a hard-working striker, which is something that Conte demands from his forward players.
“One of the knocks on Icardi has been that he’s too stationary, he’s too static, and I actually don’t know what the fit is for Icardi right now.”